JP2003259054A - Facsimile information providing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile information providing apparatus which can quickly and easily provide information desired by a user and can output the information as an image. <P>SOLUTION: The facsimile information providing apparatus includes a main controller 1, an NCU 2, a modem 3, an image memory 4, a RAM 5, a ROM 6, a display 7, an operating unit 8, a reading unit 9, a recording unit 10, and an interface 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile information providing apparatus for providing information via a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of providing information via a communication line, there is one disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2,734,336. This method is for inquiring whether the entrance examination is successful or not, and the examinee directly accesses the host computer through the communication line and confirms the result of the entrance examination by voice.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional method, there is a problem that the cost becomes high because a large-scale host computer and a voice response device are required for processing. In addition, since it is a voice inquiry system, there is a problem that the results are not left as a document in the hands of the examinees.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to quickly and easily provide the information desired by the user and to output the information as an image. To provide a simple facsimile information providing device. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile information providing device that can achieve cost reduction with a simple device configuration.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the facsimile information providing apparatus of the present invention comprises an information inputting means and a control for converting the information inputting means or information given from the outside into a predetermined data format. Means, a storage means for storing the data converted by the control means, a management code generation means for generating a management code of the data stored in the storage means, and a data transmission request based on the management code And transmitting means for transmitting the data stored in the storage means corresponding thereto. The data includes a plurality of pieces of information, and each piece of information is formed by being combined with each other for each predetermined item.

The facsimile information providing apparatus of the present invention transmits data based on the polling method. Data can also be transmitted by the broadcast method. However, in the case of the broadcast method, a flag indicating the destination of data transmission is set in the data.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will now be described in detail based on the illustrated embodiment. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment. This facsimile information providing apparatus includes a main control unit 1, N
A CU (network control unit) 2, a modem 3, an image memory 4, a RAM 5, a ROM 6, a display unit 7, an operation unit 8, a reading unit 9, a recording unit 10, and an interface unit 11 are configured.

The main controller 1 has a CPU and the like, and controls the entire facsimile information providing apparatus of the present embodiment. The main control unit 1 also includes a processing circuit for performing facsimile communication control and encoding / decoding of image data. The NCU 2 performs network control such as sending a dial signal to the communication line L. The modem 3 modulates / demodulates a signal for facsimile communication of image data. The image memory 4 includes a plurality of memory boxes (bulletin board boxes) and stores various data for facsimile communication.
The RAM 5 stores a management code or the like for managing various data stored in the memory box provided in the image memory 4.

The ROM 6 stores the operation program of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment. Display 7
Is composed of a liquid crystal screen, LEDs and the like. Operation part 8
Is composed of various operation keys, switches and the like. The reading unit 9 reads a document set on the apparatus. Recording unit 1
0 prints out image data on the recording paper. The interface unit 11 connects the device of this embodiment to a computer via a LAN, a Centronics interface, or the like.

The facsimile information providing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is used on the center side (information providing side) and has a function called an F code for controlling access to a memory box provided in the image memory 4. Have. Hereinafter, the operation of the facsimile information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described by using the example of providing the entrance / exit result information. This operation is performed based on a program stored in the ROM 6 in advance. In this embodiment, the polling method is used as the communication method. Or later,
This facsimile information providing device will be referred to as a center machine.

First, the school side prepares individual information for the examinee including the result information of the entrance examination. As shown in FIG. 2, this examinee individual information includes the department code, the department code, the examinee number, the pass / fail data, the examinee password for accessing the center machine, and the like, and is created for the total number of examinees. The password and FAX number of the center machine are notified to each student in advance. The created individual information for examinees is a computer (not shown) connected to the center machine via LAN or Centronics interface.
It is stored in the storage means or an external storage medium. Then, the examinee individual information is downloaded from the computer to the center machine prior to providing the information.

The main control unit 1 of the center machine, based on the information for each student (see FIG. 2) sent from the computer,
As shown in FIG. 3A, data is created by combining the examinee number, the entrance / exit result information, etc. for each examinee, and this data is stored in a predetermined memory box of the image memory 4. For example, the individual information for the examinee whose department code is 01, department code is 02, and examinee number is 12345,
The data is stored in the memory box corresponding to “01012345”. If the data downloaded from the computer is defective, new information is input from the operation unit 8. The main controller 1 also creates image data based on the data stored in the memory box, and also stores it in a predetermined memory box of the image memory 4.

The image data created here is, for example,
If the underlying data is text data, this data is converted into bitmap data or the like. Then, when the examinee outputs the image data on his / her own facsimile machine, as shown in FIG.
Information that identifies the examinee (faculty department name, examinee number, etc.) is placed at the prescribed position on the standard image, and corresponding to the pass / fail result data, "successfully passed" or "unfortunately failed" It is created so that comments can be added. The main controller 1 also generates a management code for managing the text data stored in the memory box and the image data corresponding to the text data, and stores the management code in the RAM 5.

Now, in order to know the pass / fail result, the examinee sends a SEP (selection polling signal (in the above example, "01021" in the previous example) from a home facsimile machine (hereinafter referred to as a remote machine).
2345 ")) and PWD (password signal (password notified in advance from the school side)) to make a call / polling reception request to the center machine. The subsequent communication protocol between the center machine and the remote machine on the communication line L is as shown in FIG. The numbers in parentheses below correspond to the numbers in parentheses in FIG.

When the center machine detects a CNG (calling tone) after receiving a call (1), it sends out a CED (callee identification signal) to the remote machine (2), and then NSF (non-standard function). (Signal) / CSI (calling terminal identification signal) / DIS (digital identification signal) is transmitted (3). When the remote machine receives these signals, it sends a PWD / SEP / CIG to the center machine.
(Calling terminal identification signal) / DTC (digital transmission command signal) / NSC (non-standard function command signal) is transmitted (4).

The center machine compares the received SEP and PWD with the management code stored in the RAM 5, and sends DCS (digital command signal) to the remote machine only when they match (5). If they do not match, the connection between the center machine and the remote machine is cut off. Next, the remote machine starts from the center machine to TC.
When receiving F (training check signal) (6), C
FR (reception preparation confirmation signal) is returned (7), and the pass / fail information (PIX) converted into desired image data is received (8).

After receiving the image data, the remote machine receives EOP (procedure end signal) (9) and returns MCF (message confirmation signal) (10). After receiving the MCF, the center machine sends DCN to the remote machine.
(Disconnection command signal) (11) is sent (11) to terminate the communication. By printing the image data received from the center machine on the remote machine, the examinee can know the pass / fail result of his / her entrance examination (see FIG. 3B for the print result).

As described above, according to the facsimile information providing apparatus of the present embodiment, since the pass / fail result reference means by the bulletin board function is provided, the test result can be actually confirmed by a document instead of a voice. Moreover, since the special function of voice response is unnecessary, the cost is reduced, and the recommendation T3
It can be easily realized within the range of 0 standard. Also, since each examinee is given a unique password, privacy can be protected.

<Second Embodiment> Although the facsimile information providing apparatus of the first embodiment uses the polling method, this embodiment adopts the broadcast method. The device configuration is similar to that of the device of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

First, also in the case of the present embodiment, the school side prepares the individual information of the examinee including the result information of the entrance examination. As shown in FIG. 5, the examinee individual information includes fax numbers, faculty codes, department codes, examination numbers, pass / fail data of a plurality of remote machines designated by the examinee, and an examinee password for accessing the center machine. It is included. Password and FA of center machine
Notify each examinee of the X number in advance. The created individual information for examinees is stored in a storage means of a computer connected to the center machine via a LAN or a Centronics interface, an external storage medium, or the like. Then, the examinee individual information is downloaded from the computer to the center machine prior to providing the information.

The main control section 1 of the center machine, based on the information for each student (see FIG. 5) sent from the computer,
As shown in FIG. 6A, data is created for each examinee by combining the examinee number, the entrance / exit result information, etc., and this data is stored in a predetermined memory box of the image memory 4. For example, the individual information for the examinee whose department code is 01, department code is 02, and examinee number is 12345,
The data is stored in the memory box corresponding to “01012345”. If the data downloaded from the computer is defective, new information is input from the operation unit 8. The main controller 1 also creates image data based on the data stored in the memory box, and also stores it in a predetermined memory box of the image memory 4.

The image data created here is, for example,
If the underlying data is text data, this data is converted into bitmap data or the like. Then, when the image data is output to the remote machine designated by the examinee, as shown in FIG. 6B,
Information that identifies the examinee (faculty department name, examinee number, etc.) is placed at the prescribed position on the standard image, and corresponding to the pass / fail result data, "successfully passed" or "unfortunately failed" It is created so that comments can be added. The main controller 1 also generates a management code for managing the text data stored in the memory box and the image data corresponding to the text data, and stores the management code in the RAM 5.

Now, in order to know the pass / fail result, the examinee sets a dummy manuscript on the remote machine and sets the SUB (Sub Ad
dress signal (“01012345” in the previous example) and S
Enter the ID (Sender ID signal (password notified in advance by the school)) to call the center machine.
Make a relay broadcast request. The subsequent communication protocol between the center machine and the remote machine on the communication line L is as shown in FIG. The numbers in parentheses below are shown in FIG.
It corresponds to the number in parentheses inside.

When the center machine detects a CNG (calling tone) after the call is received (12), it sends out a CED (callee identification signal) to the remote machine (13), followed by NSF (non-standard function). (Signal) / CSI (calling terminal identification signal) / DIS (digital identification signal) is sent (14). After receiving these signals, the remote machine sends SID / SUB to the center machine (15) and then sends DCS (digital command signal) (16). Subsequently, the remote machine sends a TCF (training check signal) to the center machine (17).

The center machine receives the received SUB and SID
Is compared with the management code stored in the RAM 5, and a CFR (reception preparation confirmation signal) is returned to the remote machine only when they match (18). If they do not match, the connection between the center machine and the remote machine is cut off. Subsequently, the center machine receives the dummy original document (PIX) from the remote machine. After receiving the dummy document, the center machine receives an EOP (procedure end signal) from the remote machine (20) and returns an MCF (message confirmation signal) to the remote machine (21). After receiving the MCF from the center machine, the remote machine
DCN (disconnection command signal) is sent to the center machine (22), and the communication is terminated.

Next, the center machine discards the dummy original data sent from the remote machine without printing it, and instead includes the entrance / exit result of the entrance examination stored in the memory box of the image memory 4. Image data is sent to the remote machine (s) specified by the examinee in advance.
At this time, the problem is that the ordinary relay transmission method immediately broadcasts the image data if the image data exists in the memory box. Normally, the data including the pass / fail results of the examinees, contact information, etc. and including information for identifying the examinees individually is created for all the examinees including those who do not want to be notified of the results. Therefore, there is a problem in transmitting data to all the examinees.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to prevent this, the data stored in the memory box is provided with a flag (requested flag) indicating the presence / absence of a request for a pass / fail result notification (see FIG. 6 (a)). This flag is in a clear state when the pass / fail result information data is stored in the memory box, and is set when the request for the pass / fail result notification is actually received from the examinee (confirmation of receipt of the dummy original). Then, if the broadcast is started only when this flag is set, the above problem is solved.

As described above, according to the facsimile information providing apparatus of the present embodiment, the relay broadcast method is adopted, and the FAX numbers of a plurality of destinations designated by the examinee are registered as transmission destinations. Not only the examinees but also their parents / relatives can be notified of the entrance examination results at the same time.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the items shown in this embodiment, and changes and improvements thereof can be made based on the description of the claims.
In each of the above-described embodiments, an example of notifying the pass / fail result of the entrance examination is shown, but the use of the facsimile information providing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to that. If you want to send multiple information to individual destinations using a facsimile machine,
The present invention can be applied to any information provision scene.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a facsimile information providing apparatus capable of quickly and easily providing information desired by a user and capable of outputting an image of the information. Moreover, this facsimile information providing apparatus has a simple structure and is low in cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile information providing apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of examinee individual information.

3A is a diagram showing an example of text data created by the facsimile information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of image data created by the facsimile information providing apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a communication protocol used in the facsimile information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of examinee individual information.

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an example of text data created by the facsimile information providing apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of image data created by the facsimile information providing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a communication protocol used in the facsimile information providing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Main control unit 2 NCU 3 modem 4 image memory 5 RAM 6 ROM 7 Display 8 operation part 9 Reader 10 Recording section 11 Interface part

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 5C062 AA02 AA25 AA30 AB38 AB42                       AC22 AC35 AE02 AF14 BC01                       BC06 BD00                 5C075 AA02 BB11 DD07 FF90                 5K030 GA11 HA07 HB04 JT05 KA01                       KA06 LD17

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Information input means, control means for converting the information input means or information given from the outside to a predetermined data format, storage means for storing the data converted by this control means, and this storage. Management code generation means for generating a management code of the data stored in the means, and transmission means for transmitting the data stored in the storage means corresponding to the transmission request of the data based on the management code. A facsimile information providing apparatus characterized by being included. 2. The facsimile information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data includes a plurality of pieces of information, and each piece of information is formed by being combined for each predetermined item. 3. The facsimile information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data transmission is performed based on a polling method. 4. The facsimile information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data transmission is performed by a broadcast method. 5. The facsimile information providing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a flag indicating a destination of data transmission is set in the data.